The striker, 29, has not started a game for his club since the 5-1 Premier League thrashing by Arsenal at the end of January.

It therefore remains to be seen if he will still be at West Ham beyond the summer but Cole, who was a target of Turkish club Kasimpasa in the winter transfer window, remains calm.

"I wasn't ready to leave in January," he said in the Daily Mail. "Other clubs talked to the agents but I didn't listen. I was still focused on West Ham.

"You've got to understand it's not a joke. If another striker comes in, I'll welcome him with open arms but I'm always there to push you."Carlton Cole

"At the end of the day, you've got to make sure you're in the manager's thoughts. Otherwise you're just wasting your time and the manager will get rid of you anyway.

"It's all about actions. It's not about speaking, 'I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna do that.' If the manager sees I'm trying hard, he's got to be fair. But if the guy's doing it in front of you, you've got to wait your chance."

On-loan Andy Carroll has been preferred by West Ham manager Sam Allardyce and the Liverpool striker is expected to complete a permanent move in the summer.

But there is no animosity from Cole, a 2005 signing from Aston Villa, towards his squad-mate.

"I've seen a lot of strikers come and go at this club. I've been here seven years,' said Cole.

"You've got to understand it's not a joke. If another striker comes in, I'll welcome him with open arms but I'm always there to push you.

"Right now I'm not playing but I'm still pushing Andy to make sure he plays well.

"My contract is up in the summer. It's the first time I've ever been in this position. It's no slight on my behalf or the club's behalf why it's like that."